Sirius Black is one of the most intriguing and mysterious characters in the Harry Potter series. He is the godfather of Harry Potter, the best friend of James Potter, and a member of the Order of the Phoenix. But how did he become Harry’s godfather, and what is his family history? In this article, we will explore the relationship between Sirius Black and Harry Potter, and reveal some secrets about Sirius’s past.
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Sirius Black: The Last Heir of the House of Black
Sirius Black was born on 3 November 1959 to Orion and Walburga Black, two pure-blood wizards who were proud of their lineage and obsessed with the Dark Arts. Sirius was the eldest son and heir of the House of Black, a noble and ancient wizarding family that traced its roots back to the Middle Ages. The House of Black had a tradition of naming their children after stars and constellations, and Sirius was named after the Dog Star.
However, Sirius did not share his parents’ views or values. He hated their pure-blood elitism, their cruelty, and their support for Lord Voldemort. He rebelled against them from an early age, and was sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This was a huge disappointment and disgrace for his family, who considered Gryffindors to be blood traitors and weaklings.
At Hogwarts, Sirius found his true friends and family. He became inseparable from James Potter, who shared his sense of humour, his love for adventure, and his talent for mischief. They also befriended Remus Lupin, a kind and intelligent boy who was secretly a werewolf, and Peter Pettigrew, a timid but loyal follower. Together, they formed a group called the Marauders, who were famous for their pranks and their creation of the Marauder’s Map, a magical document that showed the location of every person and secret passage in Hogwarts.
Sirius also developed a mutual hatred for Severus Snape, a Slytherin student who was fascinated by the Dark Arts and who despised James Potter. Sirius and James often bullied Snape, calling him “Snivellus” and hexing him whenever they could. Snape also hated Sirius, and tried to expose his secret as an Animagus.
Sirius Black: The Animagus and the Godfather
An Animagus is a witch or wizard who can transform into an animal at will. Sirius became an Animagus at the age of fifteen, along with James and Peter. They did this to help Remus cope with his monthly transformations into a werewolf. By turning into animals, they could keep him company and prevent him from hurting himself or others.
Sirius’s Animagus form was a large black dog, which earned him the nickname “Padfoot”. James’s form was a stag, which gave him the name “Prongs”. Peter’s form was a rat, which made him “Wormtail”. Remus’s werewolf form was called “Moony”, and together they were known as “Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs”.
Sirius also became Harry’s godfather when he was born on 31 July 1980. He was chosen by James and Lily Potter, who trusted him more than anyone else. Sirius loved Harry as his own son, and vowed to protect him from any harm.
However, tragedy struck on 31 October 1981, when Lord Voldemort attacked the Potters in their home in Godric’s Hollow. Voldemort had learned of their location from a spy within the Order of the Phoenix, who turned out to be none other than Peter Pettigrew. Peter had betrayed his friends to Voldemort in exchange for his own life.
Sirius arrived at the scene too late to save James and Lily, who had sacrificed themselves to shield Harry from Voldemort’s killing curse. He found Peter there as well, who faked his own death by blowing up a street with his wand and cutting off his finger. He then transformed into his rat form and escaped.
Sirius was blamed for the murder of Peter and twelve Muggles who died in the explosion. He was also accused of being Voldemort’s loyal servant and the one who revealed the Potters’ whereabouts. He was arrested by the Ministry of Magic without a trial, and sent to Azkaban prison for life.
Sirius Black: The Prisoner of Azkaban
Azkaban prison is guarded by Dementors, foul creatures that feed on human happiness and drain all hope from their victims. Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban, enduring unimaginable torture and despair. He was one of the few prisoners who managed to keep his sanity, thanks to two things: his innocence, and his Animagus ability.
Sirius knew that he was not guilty, and that he had been framed by Peter. This gave him a reason to live and to fight. He also discovered that he could transform into his dog form in his cell, which made him less affected by the Dementors. He used this trick to preserve his mind and his spirit.
In 1993, Sirius saw a picture of Peter in the Daily Prophet, disguised as a pet rat named Scabbers. He recognized him by his missing finger, and realized that he was still alive and hiding with Ron Weasley, Harry’s best friend. He also learned that Harry was attending Hogwarts, and that he was in danger from Voldemort’s followers.
Sirius decided to escape from Azkaban and find Peter, to clear his name and to protect Harry. He used his dog form to slip past the Dementors, and swam across the North Sea to reach the mainland. He then made his way to Hogwarts, where he encountered Harry several times, but was unable to explain himself or reveal his identity.
He finally confronted Peter in the Shrieking Shack, along with Harry, Ron, Hermione Granger, and Remus Lupin. He revealed the truth about Peter’s betrayal and his own innocence, and was reunited with his godson and his old friend. However, their reunion was short-lived, as Peter escaped again with the help of the full moon and the arrival of the Dementors.
Sirius was captured by the Ministry of Magic, who intended to execute him without a trial. He was saved by Harry and Hermione, who used a Time-Turner to go back in time and free him. They also summoned a Patronus charm to drive away the Dementors, which took the form of a stag, just like James Potter’s.
Sirius flew away on the back of Buckbeak, a hippogriff who had also been sentenced to death by the Ministry. He thanked Harry and Hermione for their help, and promised to keep in touch with them. He also told Harry that he was his godfather, and that he could live with him once he cleared his name.
Sirius Black: The Fugitive and the Mentor
Sirius spent the next two years as a fugitive from the law, hiding from both the Ministry of Magic and Voldemort’s Death Eaters. He stayed in contact with Harry through letters and gifts, but could not see him in person. He also resumed his role as a member of the Order of the Phoenix, an underground organization led by Albus Dumbledore that fought against Voldemort.
In 1995, Sirius returned to his childhood home at 12 Grimmauld Place in London, which became the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. He welcomed Harry and his friends there during their summer holidays, and treated them as his guests. He also acted as Harry’s mentor and confidant, giving him advice and support during his difficult times.
However, Sirius was unhappy and restless at Grimmauld Place. He hated being cooped up in the house that reminded him of his miserable past. He longed for action and adventure, and wished he could join the fight against Voldemort. He also felt frustrated by Dumbledore’s orders to stay hidden and not reveal himself to Harry or anyone else.
Sirius’s frustration led him to take some risks that endangered himself and others. He used a fireplace at Grimmauld Place to communicate with Harry through Floo Powder, despite the possibility of being detected by the Ministry of Magic. He also disguised himself as a dog and followed Harry to King’s Cross Station at the end of the summer holidays, where he was almost recognized by Lucius Malfoy.
Sirius Black: The Hero and the Martyr
In 1996, Sirius faced his final battle at the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic. He joined Harry and his friends there after they were lured by Voldemort into a trap. Voldemort wanted to obtain a prophecy that concerned him and Harry, which was stored in a glass sphere in one of the rooms.
Sirius fought bravely alongside Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody, and other members of the Order of the Phoenix against a group of Death Eaters led by Bellatrix Lestrange, his cousin and mortal enemy. He managed to save Harry from being killed by Lucius Malfoy, but was soon cornered by Bellatrix.
Sirius taunted Bellatrix for being a coward and a traitor to their family. He laughed at her attempts to hurt him with curses and hexes. He seemed confident and fearless in the face of death.
However, his laughter proved to be his downfall. Bellatrix hit him with a curse that sent him flying backwards into an archway that was covered by a black veil. Sirius fell through the veil without a sound or a scream. He disappeared from sight forever.
